FeeBase
Log inGet started
Menu

CPT code 21899: Unlisted procedure, neck or thorax2026 Medicare rate & RVUs

Reports a neck or thorax operation that lacks a specific CPT code, with Medicare payment determined by the claim’s Medicare Administrative Contractor.

CMS RVU26DEffective Oct 1, 2026109 payment localities130 Medicare services in 2024

Medicare rate · 21899

Unlisted procedure, neck or thorax

Office or facility?

Work RVUs
0
Total RVUs
0.00
Global days
YYY

National rate · 2026

—

Not priced in the facility setting.

See every locality for 21899 →Billed by an NP, PA or therapist? →

Medicare allowed amount for participating (non-QP) physicians, before deductible, coinsurance and claim adjustments. Not a patient’s bill or a hospital charge.

Your location

Medicare pays by the payment locality where the service is performed.

On this page 10 sections
  1. Medicare rate
  2. What 21899 covers
  3. By payment locality
  4. Rate map
  5. How it’s calculated
  6. Payment rules
  7. Similar codes
  8. Related codes
  9. Billing questions
  10. Sources

What 21899 covers

CPT 21899 is used for a surgical procedure involving the neck or thorax when no more specific CPT code describes the work. A surgeon may report it for an uncommon or specialized operation whose anatomy, approach, or extent does not fit a listed procedure. The operative report should describe the treated structures, surgical approach, and work performed; the claim narrative should make clear why a specific code does not fit.

Medicare assigns this code physician fee schedule status C, meaning there is no national payment amount and the Medicare Administrative Contractor prices each claim. The contractor also sets the global period. When multiple procedures are performed in the same session, the highest-valued procedure is paid in full and the others are subject to the standard 50% multiple-procedure reduction.

This summary was written with AI assistance from CMS physician fee schedule data and checked against the CMS billing rules shown here. Rates on this page come directly from CMS files.

Where 21899 pays more and less

The same RVUs, adjusted for each area’s costs. Open a locality for its calculation, history and nearby areas.

109 of 109 payment localities

21899 office and facility rates by payment locality
Payment localityOfficeFacility
AlabamaUnavailableUnavailable
AlaskaUnavailableUnavailable
ArizonaUnavailableUnavailable
ArkansasUnavailableUnavailable
Atlanta, GAUnavailableUnavailable
Austin, TXUnavailableUnavailable
Bakersfield, CAUnavailableUnavailable
Baltimore area, MDUnavailableUnavailable
Beaumont, TXUnavailableUnavailable
Brazoria, TXUnavailableUnavailable

21899 rates by state

Office rate range in each state. Select a state to see its payment localities.

MEWIVTNHMTNDMNMINYMARIWAIDWYSDIAILINOHPANJCTORNVUTCONEMOKYWVVAMDDECAAZNMKSOKARTNNCSCDCTXLAMSALGAFLAKHI

Explore a state

Local rates. Clear comparisons.

Hover or focus a tile to see its rate range. Select it to open the state’s fee schedule.

View every state and territory as a table
21899 office rate range by state
State / territoryOffice rate rangeLocalities
AKNo published base rate1
ALNo published base rate1
ARNo published base rate1
AZNo published base rate1
CANo published base rate29
CONo published base rate1
CTNo published base rate1
DCNo published base rate1
DENo published base rate1
FLNo published base rate3
GANo published base rate2
GUNo published base rate1
HINo published base rate1
IANo published base rate1
IDNo published base rate1
ILNo published base rate4
INNo published base rate1
KSNo published base rate1
KYNo published base rate1
LANo published base rate2
MANo published base rate2
MDNo published base rate3
MENo published base rate2
MINo published base rate2
MNNo published base rate1
MONo published base rate3
MSNo published base rate1
MTNo published base rate1
NCNo published base rate1
NDNo published base rate1
NENo published base rate1
NHNo published base rate1
NJNo published base rate2
NMNo published base rate1
NVNo published base rate1
NYNo published base rate5
OHNo published base rate1
OKNo published base rate1
ORNo published base rate2
PANo published base rate2
PRNo published base rate1
RINo published base rate1
SCNo published base rate1
SDNo published base rate1
TNNo published base rate1
TXNo published base rate8
UTNo published base rate1
VANo published base rate2
VINo published base rate1
VTNo published base rate1
WANo published base rate2
WINo published base rate1
WVNo published base rate1
WYNo published base rate1

How the 21899 rate is calculated

Each of 21899’s three RVUs is multiplied by a geographic index (GPCI) for the payment locality, added up, and multiplied by the conversion factor. Drag the indexes or enter a ZIP to see what moves the rate.

How the rate is built · 21899

RVUs × geographic indexes × conversion factor

Office or facility?

Work0.00

0.00 RVUs× 1.000 GPCI

Practice expense0.00

0.00 RVUs× 1.000 GPCI

Malpractice0.00

0.00 RVUs× 1.000 GPCI

Adjusted RVUs

0.0000

Conversion factor

$33.4009

Medicare rate

$0.00

Every GPCI starts at 1.000, the national rate. Enter a ZIP or drag a slider.

Payment rules and modifiers for 21899

The CMS indicators that decide how 21899 is paid alongside other services.

CMS payment indicators · 21899

Unlisted procedure, neck or thorax

RuleCMS valueWhat it means
Global periodYYYThe Medicare contractor sets the global period.
Multiple procedures2Standard reduction: highest-valued procedure at 100%, others at 50%.
Bilateral (modifier 50)0The 150% bilateral adjustment doesn’t apply.
Assistant at surgery (80/81/82/AS)0Not paid without supporting documentation.
Co-surgeons (62)1Permitted with supporting documentation.
Team surgery (66)1Permitted with supporting documentation.
Professional/technical0Physician service: no professional/technical split.

What modifiers do to the payment

Modifier 51 · payment effect

With and without the modifier

21899 without 51 · national facility

$0.00

Unlisted procedure, neck or thorax

21899-51 · Second procedure: 50%

$0.00

When this isn’t the highest-valued procedure in the session, Medicare pays 50% of its fee schedule amount (the highest is paid at 100%).

When to use modifier 51

21899 compared with similar codes

Compare codes · National

5 codes, side by side

Office or facility?

  • 21899

    Unlisted procedure, neck or thorax0 wRVU

    Not priced

  • 21811

    Rib fixation, unilateral, 1-3 ribs10.52 wRVU

    Not priced

  • 21812

    Rib fracture fixation, four to six ribs12.68 wRVU

    Not priced

  • 21813

    Rib fracture fixation, seven or more ribs17.17 wRVU

    Not priced

  • 21825

    Sternal fracture repair, open treatment7.57 wRVU

    Not priced

How to choose

21811Rib fixationUnilateral, 1-3 ribs
21811 describes open treatment of 1–3 rib fractures with internal fixation. Use 21899 only when the operation does not fit that listed service or another specific code.
21812Rib fracture fixationFour to six ribs
21812 is the listed open rib-fracture fixation code for 4–6 ribs. It is selected by the rib count, rather than used as an unlisted procedure code.
21813Rib fracture fixationSeven or more ribs
21813 covers open rib-fracture fixation involving 7 or more ribs. Choose it when that defined service matches the operation.
21825Sternal fracture repairOpen treatment
21825 describes open treatment of a sternum fracture, with or without internal fixation. It is the specific choice when the operation matches that service.

Codes related to 21899

Related codes aren’t interchangeable: bill the code that matches the service performed.

Codes related to 21899
CodeHow it relatesNational office range
Used instead
21811Rib fixation, unilateral, 1-3 ribsUse for open rib-fracture treatment with internal fixation when the case involves 1–3 ribs.No office rate
21812Rib fracture fixation, four to six ribsUse for open rib-fracture treatment with internal fixation when the case involves 4–6 ribs.No office rate
21813Rib fracture fixation, seven or more ribsUse for open rib-fracture treatment with internal fixation when the case involves 7 or more ribs.No office rate
21820Sternum fracture care, closed, without manipulationListed code for closed treatment of a sternum fracture without manipulation.$157.29–$235.60
21825Sternal fracture repair, open treatmentListed code for open treatment of a sternum fracture, with or without internal fixation.No office rate

21899 billing questions

When should 21899 be used instead of a listed rib or sternum procedure code?

Use 21899 only when no listed CPT code accurately describes the neck or thorax operation. For a procedure matching a specific rib or sternum treatment code, report that listed code instead.

What documentation supports a claim for 21899?

The operative report should identify the anatomy, approach, and work performed. The claim narrative should explain why a specific listed CPT code does not describe the procedure.

How does Medicare price 21899?

Medicare assigns status C: the Medicare Administrative Contractor sets payment for each claim, and CMS publishes no national payment amount.

Who sets the global period for 21899?

The Medicare contractor sets the global period for this code.

How is 21899 treated when multiple procedures occur in one session?

The highest-valued procedure is paid in full, and other procedures are subject to the standard 50% multiple-procedure reduction.

Where these rates come from

FeeBase calculates base physician payments from CMS work, practice-expense and malpractice RVUs, adjusted by each locality’s geographic indexes and the conversion factor. Services without a published rate are labeled, never given a made-up amount. Amounts are Medicare allowed amounts before claim adjustments: not a patient’s bill or a commercial rate.

CMS RVU26D · effective Oct 1, 2026 through the day before Jan 1, 2027

Open CMS sourceHow we calculate rates

Did this answer your question about what 21899 pays?

Tell us what you were actually trying to work out. We’ll answer you directly, or build the page that does.

Fee sheets · Coming soon

Put 21899 and the rest of your codes on one sheet

Your codes at your locality, with payer contracts beside Medicare.

Join the waitlist